Technology

This bill requires websites and apps that knowingly distribute obscene online content to verify users are 18 or older using reasonable methods, such as government ID or transactional data. Businesses must not retain any personal information after age verification is complete. It excludes bona fide news broadcasts, public interest content, and services like internet providers, search engines, or cloud hosts that don’t create the content. Violating the bill makes businesses liable for damages - including court costs and attorney fees - if a minor accesses the material, and the Attorney General can enforce it as an unfair practice.

Maine's LD 919 requires public schools, public charter schools, and approved private schools to obtain written parental permission before administering any survey or questionnaire that asks for or identifies a minor student's full name. The bill directly affects schools by restricting how they collect student data and parents by requiring their explicit consent for these specific surveys. Key provisions mandate that schools cannot use such surveys without prior written permission from a parent, covering all student surveys that request full names. This policy change focuses on protecting student privacy for a specific type of data collection in educational settings.